Roof constructing tool



April 10,1945. I c LQCKE 2,373,403

ROOF CONSTRUCTING TOOL Filed Aug. '7, 1943 INVENTOR. Ci grzes GLocYfe ATE-D R N EYE Patented Apr. 10, 1945 ROOF CONSTRUCTING TOOL" I Charles G. Locke, Sit Marys, W, V

Application August 7, 1943, Serial No.497, 843

4 Claims. (CI. 20994) This invention relates to roof constructing tools, and its general object is to provide a tool which makes it possible for a single'carpenter to properly construct the frame of a; gable .or like roof in an easy and expeditious manner, in' that the device is designed for use in accurately placing and rigidly supporting rafters relative to the ridge-piece of the roof frame, so that the rafters can be nailed to the pole plate, without a. helper holding the rafters in place.

A further object is to provide a roof constructing tool, that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremely efficient in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawin and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which;

Figure l is a front view of my device in use, with the ridgepiece in section.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof, with a rafter in section.

Figure 3 is a rear view of Figure l, Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of one of the rafter jack plates.

Figure 5 is a view of a jack plate stud member.

Referring to the drawing, in detail, it will be noted that my device includes a hanger that is made up of a pair of companion members i and 2, the member i including a cross sectional rounded shank 3 and a. flat strip like arm formed to provide an inclined lower portion 4 formed on the upper end of the shank 3 and a vertical upper portion 5 having an elongated rectangular collar 6 formed on and extending lengthwise of the upper end thereof, the collar having a set screw 7 threaded through one of its ends, for a purpose which will be presently apparent.

The other hanger member 2 likewise includes a cross sectional rounded shank 8 and a flat strip like arm, the latter being formed to provide an inclined lower portion 9 formed on the upper end of the chank 8 and a vertical upper portion Ii), the latter having a horizontally arranged portion l I formed on the upper end thereof, slidably received in the collar 6 for adjusting the membersi and 2 relative to each other, when applying and seeming the hanger to the ridgepiece A.

The members! and Z are secured to the ridge pi'ece' in straddling'relation thereto'by the set screw 1 bearing against the horizontal portion H, and when in appliedposition, the vertical portions 5 and 10 are disposed in clamping en gagement' with the [sides of thefridgepiece. and the" horizontal portion H rests upon the upper face of said piece, while the lower inclined portions 4 and 9 extend outwardly in diverging relation, for spacing the shanks in parallelism with each other below the ridgepiece as shown.

Each of the shanks have adjustably associated therewith, a rafter jack plate I2, that is square in outline, as shown, and is formed with an attaching bracket l3 disposed on the under face thereof, the brackets being slidably and rotatably mounted on studs M which have collars l5 formed on one of their ends. The collars are mounted on the shanks for sliding movement and are held in adjusted position by set screws It. The jack plates are held in adjusted position on the studs by set screws I1 threaded through the attaching brackets l3. After the hanger has been fixed to the ridgepiece as previously set forth, the rafters B are disposed between the ridgepiece and the pole plates, not shown, to rest upon the jack plates, thence the latter are adjusted to dispose the rafters in proper position relative to the ridge: piece, the jack plates supporting the rafters accordingly, while the latter are being nailed to the pole plates, with the result it will be seen that my device holds the rafters in place, against any possibility of casual removal or displacement, and thereby makes it possible for a single carpenter to construct a roof frame, in an easy and expeditious manner, without assistance. It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A roof constructing tool for supporting rafters relative to a ridgepiece, comprising a 1 2. A roof constructing tool for supporting rafters relative to a ridgepiece, comprising a hanger shaped to straddle the ridgepiece and including a pair of companion members, means for securing said members together in straddling and clamping relation to the ridgepiece, a depending shank included in each member, a collar for each shank, the collars being mounted on the shanks for vertical adjustment, means for securing the collars in adjusted positions, a stud carried by each collar, a jack plate adjustably secured to each stud to assume angular positions, and the jack plates being adapted for the rafters to rest U thereon at an angle to the ridge piece.

3. A roof constructing tool for supporting rafters relative to a ridgepiece, comprising a hanger shaped to straddle the ridgepiece and including a pair of companion members, means for securing said members together in straddling and clamping relation to the ridgepiece, a depending shank included in each member, a collar for each shank, the collars being mounted on the shanks for vertical adjustment, set screws for securing the collars in adjusted positions, a stud carried by each collar, a jack plate for each stud, attaching brackets formed on said plates and slidably and rotatably mounted on the studs, means collar formed on the upper end of one vertical portion, a horizontal portion formed on the upg per end of the other vertical portion and slidably mounted in the collar for adjusting the members ,relative .to each other, a set screw threaded throughthe collar to bear against said horizontal portion for securing said members together in straddling relation to the ridgepiece and the vertical portions thereof in clamping engagement with the ridgepiece, and means for the rafters to rest thereon and being adjustably associated with the shanks. Y

t CHARLES G. LOCKE. 

